Integral camouflage flashlight

Abstract

A flashlight outer sleeve is formed of rubber which has an integral camouflage pattern. Because the multicolored elements of the sleeve are fused together, a scratch or abrasion will not appreciably alter its appearance. The rubber sleeve is formed in a compression molding process. Multilayer rubber sheet assemblies are prepared for the compression molding process by first die-cutting camouflage pattern shapes from thin sheets of rubber of two or more colors. The die cut shapes are placed on rectangular base sheets and pressed into temporary engagement to create multilayer sheet assemblies. The sheet assemblies are disposed in conventional rubber compressing molding molds and are heated. As the base sheet and the pattern shapes are comprised of identical rubber material, except for color, the heated rubber flows such that the multilayer assemblies take on the shape of the molded parts. Furthermore, the pattern shapes fuse with the base sheet material to form a rubber sleeve which has an integrally molded camouflage pattern. The appearance of the camouflage pattern, while being generally governed by the shape and placement of the pattern shapes, varies from part to part due to the molding process. More importantly, the color regions, while distinct from one another, have blended edges which advantageously contribute to the appearance of a more natural camouflage pattern. The molded rubber sleeve is fitted over a stiff plastic styrene body to form a flashlight.

I claim: 
     
       1. A camouflage patterned flashlight formed by the process comprising the steps of: a) positioning a plurality of rubber pattern shapes on a rubber base layer to form a desired arrangement of colors, wherein the thickness of each pattern shape is less than the thickness of the base layer, and wherein the pattern shapes and base layer are formed of rubber of similar kind, except for color, and wherein the pattern shapes differ in color from the color of the base layer;   b) engaging the pattern shapes on the base layer to form a rubber multilayer assembly;   c) positioning the multilayer assembly in a compression mold;   d) heating the compression mold to cause a flowing of the pattern shapes and the base layer to fuse the pattern shapes to the base layer and form the multilayer assembly into the shape of a flashlight sleeve; and   e) removing the molded multilayer assembly from the compression mold and attaching the molded assembly to a flashlight body so that the arrangement of colors faces outwardly.   
     
     
       2. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the rubber composing the pattern shapes and the base layers comprises #3 smoked rubber. 
     
     
       3. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the pattern shapes include shapes which are beige, brown, black, and white in color, and wherein the base layer is green in color, the arrangement of colors thereby forming a camouflage pattern. 
     
     
       4. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the heating step comprises heating the multilayer assembly in the compression mold to between about 160°-180° C. for about 1 1/2  to 2 minutes. 
     
     
       5. A camouflage patterned flashlight comprising: a) a stiff plastic body;   b) a sleeve engaged with the body to define an outwardly facing surface, the sleeve being formed by positioning a plurality of rubber pattern shapes on a rubber base layer to form a desired arrangement of colors, wherein the thickness of each pattern shape is less than the thickness of the base layer, and wherein the pattern shapes and base layer are formed of rubber of similar kind, except for color, and wherein the pattern shapes differ in color from the color of the base layer and the engaged pattern shapes and base layer are heated in a compression mold to cause a flowing of the pattern shapes and the base layer to fuse the pattern shapes to the base layer;   c) a reflector;   d) at least one battery;   e) a light bulb positioned in the reflector; and   f) a switch for selectably activating the light bulb.